History

Early years

Within weeks of being founded the club were in a battle with local club Hastings & St. Leonards Amateurs for use of the lower pitch at the Pilot Field (The pitch now used by the current Hastings United). the proposal of ground sharing was considered, but was quickly dismissed as impractical.

United initially offered £600 rent, whilst the Amateurs offered £300, the same amount they had paid the previous season. Hastings Borough Council granted use of the lower pitch to United for £750 a year. On August 6, 1948, it was announced that Councillor Frank Oak had been appointed full-time secretary-manager of Hastings United, whilst George Steel, another councillor became the clubs first Chairman. United's début game was against another newly formed club Tonbridge, at the Angel ground on August 21, United won the game 2-1.

The Jack Tresadern Years

By the time Tresadern took over, the club had won one game in 21 league matches and had just lost 7-0 to Kettering. In Tresadern's first game in charge United won 3-0 at the Pilot Field, against sixth-placed Yeovil Town. However the club were already in a cash crisis, having to rely on donations from supporters to pay the players and travel to away games.